Russell Westbrook: It's 'outrageous' Paul George not voted All-Star

NBA.com staff reports

Jan 24, 2018 12:22 AM ET

Russell Westbrook won't have any Thunder teammates with him in the All-Star game.

Thunder forward Paul George was left off the 2018 All-Star team, and like several other players across the league who saw their respective teammate omitted, Russell Westbrook made it clear his guy was snubbed.

The reigning MVP and two-time All-Star MVP believes it’s “outrageous” George was not voted in, via Royce Young of ESPN.com.

“Unbelievable. I think it’s just outrageous in my opinion,” Westbrook said. “I don’t know who else made the team, but I know you got guys with four people from one team. You got guys complaining about being snubbed so they can get in. You got guys that just talk about it all the time, but the guys that deserve it should be in it. I just don’t understand. It doesn’t make any sense a guy that leads the league in steals, compete every night, top two in his position, it don’t make any sense regardless of anything else… Everybody’s not an All-Star. Just because you get voted in don’t mean you’re an All-Star. I just think it’s outrageous.”

Westbrook was referring to Golden State in regards to a team having four All-Stars. As for him saying "guys complaining about being snubbed", this was presumably a shot at Damian Lillard, who has grumbled a bit after when not chosen to be an All-Star.

The OKC star definitely has a solid argument for his new teammate. In his first season with Oklahoma City, George is averaging 20-plus points per game and shooting at a career clip beyond the arc at 43 percent while maintaining his prowess of being a two-way player. He leads the league in deflections and is second behind Westbrook in total steals.